Comb-cleaning apparatus



(No Model.) I

G. H. MOKEE.

COMB CLEANING APPARATUS.

No. 879,588 Patented Mar. 20, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. MOKEE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMB-CLEANING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379.588, dated March 20, 1888.

Application filed July l8, 1887. Serial No. 244.610.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. MoKEE, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex. and State of Massachuselts,ha\'e invented an Improvement in Comb-CleaningApparatus, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the ac companying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus or instrument especially adapted for cleaning toilet-combs, by which dandruff and other unwholesome matter accumulated between the teeth of the said comb may be re moved.

In accordance with my invention I have se cured to an adjustable frame aseries ofstrands, preferably of twisted wire, but which may be of catgut, thread, or other tough or strong fibrous material, the said strands, for the best results, being separated the distance ofa tooth of the comb to be cleaned, whereby two of the said strands may pass on the opposite sides of a tooth when the instrument is used.

The particular features in which my invention consists will be pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a preferred form ofcomb cleaning instrument or apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, the strand a being therein shown as plain to avoid confusion in the drawings, but said strands in practice will preferably be twisted; Fig. 2, a section of Fig. 1 on line or m,- Fig. 3, a detail of the twisted-wire strand enlarged.

Referring to Fig. l, the frame to which the strands a a preferably of twisted wire, are secured, is shown as composed of two parts, a a joined by a spindle, a, havinga handle, a, by which the instrument may be grasped when in use.

The spindle aiabove the handle a, as herein shown, is provided with screw-threads b, which co-operate with threads of an opening or hole in the part a through which the spindle a is inserted, the top or opposite end of the said spindle being shown extended into a socket in (No model.)

the part c,when the instrument is in readiness for use, as shown in Fig. l. The ends of each part a a of the frame are herein shown as provided with a series of notches, b,th rough which are extended the strands a a. Each strand an a as shown, has one end fastened to the part a by screw 6, the said strand being inserted through the notches b in the parts a a to form a series of parallel strands, the other end of the said strand being fastened to the opposite side of the part a, or it may be to the part a As shown in Fig. 1, the strands (tax are under tension, caused by turning the handle a so as toseparate the parts a a", the said threads at such time being somewhat separated from each other and adapted to be used for cleaning combs having average teeth; but should it be desired to clean combs with coarser teeth the tension upon the strands will be relaxed by turning the handle in the opposite direction, thus enabling the said strands to enter the spaces between the teeth.

I prefer to employ a twisted-wire strand, as shown in Fig. 3, as by it the accumulation be tween the teeth is more thoroughly removed; but good results may be obtained with a smooth wire or strand, as with catgut.

The strands, after considerable use, may sag or become loose, and they may be tightened or brought under the desired tension by turuing the handle a" to force apart the parts a c.

I claim A comb-cleaning apparatus comprising an adjustable l'rame composed of the parts a a and spindle a and a series of strands secured to the parts a a, the part a being adjustable with relation to the part a through the said spindle, substantially as specified.

in testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. MOKEE.

\Vitnesses:

J As. H. CHURCHILL, B. DEWAR. 

